Vehicle-unloading apparatus



Feb. 6, '1923.

W. A. PETTEYS.

VEHICLE UNLOADING APPARATUS.

4 SHEETS-SHEET i.

FILED MAY 20,1921.

Feb 6, 1923. 1,444,704. W. A. PETTEYS.

VEHIQLE UNLOADING APPARATUS.

FILED Mv/20,1921. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

VEHICLE UNLOADING APPARATUS.

man MAY 26.1921.l 4 SHEETS-SHEET s.

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ATTORNEY.

Feb. 6, 1923. l

W. A. PETTEYS.

vEHxcLE UNL'oADlNG APPARATUS.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' FILED MAY 20, 1921.

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I N VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented lieb. 6 1923.

TATE@ WILLARD A. PETTEYS, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

VEHICLE-UNLADING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 2U, 15521.` Serial No. 471,134.

To all whom. t may concern Be it known that l, VILLARD A. Pn'rfrnys, a citizen oit the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county ot Lancaster' and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useliul improvements in `vlehicleN 'Unloading Nipparatus7 o' which the 'following is a specilication.

Qhis invention appertains to an unloading,v apparatus or mechanism, and more particu larly to a type oi the same adapted tor the unloading` et vehicles, especially motor truck types of such vehicles.

rlhe principal object oit the invention is to provide tor an apparatus or mechanism et the character mentioned, and one particularly designed to facilitate the unloading oit non-dumping1 vehicles, and more especially non--duinping types oif motor vehicles.

.another ohject ot the invention is to provide tor an unloading apparatus or mechanism ot the type specilied, and one particularly adapted tor the unloading;` ot motor vehicles ot' a non-dumping` type, and Wherein the motor power ot the motor vehicle is utilized 'tor the operation ot the unloading meclianism.

il further object of the invention is to provide for an unloadingv apparatus or mechanism oit the class set forth, and one wherein, in addition to the provision for the operation olfthe unloading mechanism 'lrom the driven Wheels a motor vehicle to he unloaded, provision is also made ttor the application ot power to the mechanism from a source other than that of the truck to he unloaded, whereby vehicles, other than ificiver criven types ot the same may he unloaded with equal tacility.

'ill ith the foregoingl and other objects in sier-v, the invention resides in the certain novel and usetul construction and arrangement oit parts as Will he hereinafter more fully described, set tort-h inthe appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying; drawings, in which zw Figure l is a side elevation o'f the preferred embodiment ot the apparatus or mechanism,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, y

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the power transmission mechanism and the support-- ,trame thereot with the vehicle runways ot supporting` plattorm removed therefrom,

Fig. 4 is a front end elevation,

Fig. 5 is a rear end elevation,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2,

Fig'. is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 7-v7 o1"l Fig. 2,

F 8 is a .fragmentary plan View7 partly in ection, 'ot the upper and outer end portion of the unloading elevator, showing the manner et adjusting; the slats in the endless helt or chain conveyor thereof,

9 is a transverse section taken on t-he line 9--9 ot Fig. 5,

i() is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line lll-l0 oit' Fig. 3, and,

Fig. is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line ll-ll ot Fig. 3.

Referring' to the drawings, wherein similar characters oi reference designate corresponding' parts in the several views thereof, the apparatus comprises generally an unloading platform a, having oppositely disposed runways t and c leading to and from the opposite ends thereot1 tor the travel thereon ot the vehicles or trucks to ne unloaded; a conveyor mechanism d at the for- Ward or front end ol the platform a and arv ranged to receive the material to he dumped from. the rear ends ot the vehicles or trucks, when the same are properly positioned on the platform a, and to deliver the material laterally ot' the latter and discharge the same into receptacles, storage hins, or ii'eiglit lars and the like, shoiY i in dotted lines at c in Fig. 4; and a vehicle or truck end rais-- ing` and lowering elevator or rplatorm f disposed at the end ct the plattorm u, opposite to that carryingthe conveyor mechanism d, the latter being adapted t r usc in. the dumping of material troni o" linarv forms of non-dumping' motor trucks, trailer trucks, and other terms oi Yvehicles only,A

rllhe unloading platform a comprises a flooring l0 laid and secured on a trameworh consisting ot a plurality ot longitudinally extending timbers, or joists ll, l2, lil, 14, l5, 16 and i7, one spaced troni; the other. an d oppositely disposed end timbers or 18 and l() connecting' the ends ot the several longitudinally extending timbers or joists, substantially as is shown in Fig. 3. lint-ending transversely ot the vtrame inwardly ot the trent ends thcreot'. is au axle 2O having; its opposite ends journaled in hearings Q1 and 22 secured on the under faces of the longitudinally extending timbers or joists 12 and 17, respectively. Carried on the opposite end portions of the axle 20, between the timbers or joists 12, 13, and 16, 17, re-4 extending Stringer or sill 28 secured in position on the under face of the timber ory joist 18, and provided with a lined shoulder' or collar 29 bearing against the under face thereof. A similar Stringer or sill 30 is secured onthe under face of the front end timber or joist 19, and the outer edges of both stringers or sills 28 and 30 are projected outwardly of the outer faces of the timbers or joists 18 anad 19, and are adapted to support all projected portions thereon, the adjacent ends of the runways c and 4Z, respectively, as will be more fullyexplained herein. For supporting the platform a in fixed or stationary position, after the same has been moved on its ground or traction wheels 23 and 24, to desired unloading posi tion, suitable jack devices or supports 3l are provided, and the same are supported in position at the opposite ends of the sills 28 and 30, andare preferably arranged to be folded inwardly of the framework when not in use, and, when lowered, act to raise the platform sufficiently to take the weight of the same olf of the wheels thereof, sub-y stantially as is shown in Fig. l.

The material unloading conveyor mechanism 0l is arranged at the forward or front end of the platform` o, as hereinbefore stated, and cpmprises an outwardly and downwardly inclined side discharge trough 32, which is secured in position immediately inward of the front end timber or joist 19, and between the same and the inner transversely extending timber or joists 33 connecting the longitudinally extending timbers or joists 13 and 17. rlhe lower outer discharge end of the trough. 32 passes under the adjacent ends of the timbers or joists 16 and 17, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and is arranged to discharge into a curved housing portion 34 at the lower end of an outwardly,/v extended conveyor frame 35, where the material is caught up'by an endless belt or chain conveyor 36 trained between suitable rollers or sprockets 37 and 38` carried on shafts 39 and 40, respectively, which are journaled transversely of the lower and upper ends of the frame 35. The conveyor frame 35 is pivotally supported at its lower end on the shaft 39, which has its oppositely projected ends journaled in bracket arms 41 projecting outwardly from the rear side timber or joist 17, and is .adjustable to any desirable angular inclination with respect to the platform c, through the medium of a cable 42, which is secured at one end to the frame 35, as at 44, and is trained over a pair of sheaves or pulleys 45 and 46, carried at the opposite ends of a transverse 'y extendingl bar 47 supported at a 'distance above the platform a on pairs of spaced posts 48, 4S', and 49, 49', rising from the opposite corners of the front end of the latter, the posts 49, 49, however, are spaced inwardly of the '.lorward side of the plat* form a, 'whereby to permitA standing room for an operator to manipulate the cable 42 from this point, and mounted on these posts 49, 49', at a suitable distance from the flooring 10 of the platform is la winding shaft 50, which is journaled in bearings 5l, and carries a winding drum 52, on which the free end of the cable 42 is wound and secured. rlhe drum 52 is keyed on the 50 between the posts 49, 49', and has one of its side flanges formed to provide a series of notches ada ated to be engaged bi a nawl .e .i i

or dog 53 whereby to prevent retrograde movement of the drum 52, under the-strain of the weight of the conveyor frame 35, supported from the opposite end of the cable 42, the paw] or dog 53 being -pivoted on the post 49 for the purposeu The shaft 59 one end provided with a hand crank by means of which the drum 52 is to be rotated for the winding and unwinding` of the cable 42 thereon, and for the corresponding raising and lowering of the outer end of the conveyor frame 35 at the opposite side of the platforn'il a. The posts 49, 49 are pref-A erably braced in a direction opposed to the pulling` strain of the cable 42, by means of complemental brace rods 49", the same being secured to the upper ends of the posts by means of a bolt 47 and inclining outwardly and downwardly therefrom for secured engagement with the edge ofthe platform flooring l0, as at 47". rlfhe conveyor belt or chain 36 may be of any desired form, or of a known construction, beinH vorovidC-id with either slats, buckets, scoops or the like, depending upon the class or type of articles or .material to be unloaded, and, in the pres-- ent instance, slats or bars 3G are shown, The opposite ends of the shaft 40 at the upper end of the conveyor frame 35, are

journaled in adjustable bearing members 55, and the desired. adjustment of the ysame is accomplished, for varying the slack in the endless conveyor 36, through the medium of adjusting screws or bolts 56, which extend between lugs or ears 57, formed on the bearingmembers 55, r'andthe angularly bent end llO J eanied et vthe ends o1 'the opposite sieA portions 58 of pair of 'bracket member? 59 'fif Q1 meinbei's of the conveyor frame 35, e eian'ieiy as Shown in Fig. 8.

ri'ihe diseherge trough 32 eiends erosie the freni end of Juhe platform 0; f'oin ene eide thereof, and ioif a distance i than the treed of jdie Whees of Tft-he lg-ineke oi' vehieies dii'en ono 'ishe platform from ghe eiined runway sind the ooiing o? 'f' eid@- ''oiin eiininees, zuound the open oii *wie ti'ough, :1nd te eHow 'foi' he ti'mel oi the oncoming 'trucks o1' vehicles, ove;u the Liouggix1 at Hooi' Section (SO is hnvfed, es at 617 io the upper end o" the iiii Way and ie @denied io neimaliy e'vei'iie the open eide o1 the tyexgh iueh Wih *che level @ii he pietoin door, Vi'fhe 'unwziy b is made up of e {iooiing 62 ee cured on ciinheis of? joiete 68, sind the np'pe" ends of the ioweii' faces of theee joiste notched out, as at 6%, foi' eiipjageinen on 'the pi'ojee'ing edge o the siii EO, and in a inennei' 'to dispose the top edge of the iunwey @owing rlciish in lie piane oi: Vthe uppei" sur iin/:e oi the pietioim ieoiing. Inweiidly fiom 'the inner Side ol the *gi'ough 32, he Jiat'foim ioezi'iiig' 1() is eut io provide e nievahle section 65 ei! a Siigghidy gree ,if length dien that of che trough 32, and Aihis election 65 is hinged on the hone 02'? the inneii eide of 'the mei, as ai 66. ,fiftei' e timoh oz? vehicle hee 1heen positioned dumping; on the piet-- ferm a, ehe Hooi section GO, caried by the runway Section sind he iieei Section are adapted *ao he iaieed te oopoei'teiy iik dined pessiions7 ae shown in L f-io as te dil-eea` inaeiial dieehai'ged ioin he i'eai end en [he l j edi 28 et the reel end ehe piefom a 5 the top edge i the 'sieoingj ie difoosed Hush in the plane of 4he nletfeii'ni ooihgx.

1 Foi' securing the 'funway 7) in posit-ion against weideA @bei d nlgeement 'from the *fi'ent end e the joiatfeiii a? Jche end mhei oir i( ist 'i9 if; provided with a pair of opp@n l ilzpeced hoiee oi' soeiee opening dewnwzidjx o "te upper edge, Shown in F' ve. 3 and 5, d vhieh adapted to receive he Suaight slanke of a Dein e pivoied hitehin h-eoie. G9. The top edge of the in hei' 19 is formed Wi h ;1"ee-:res Z Whieh pibevide seeds 'for' poi ons; of 'he ehanke of the hooi-:s (SSX and into he Seid grooves Y?. onen the eoeieie The hooks G9 are emiied by Certain of the timheie el' jeieiisf. of the funwfiv Z. The rmi HW c is; Secured en he weer end of the platform fn by means of hoeiie .701 Whieh :ii-e pivoed te certain of he 'timbers Fenggee 'im um om 30 on 11:,

Med

11..1 ei'iandei from Y, i'hev fire himsine' 'he end pfi'iene miv illu' e, ,flu mf ende e? *ghe he? e? E Ae Afree ends 13G work, where the free ends of the same are wound on winding drums 123, keyed on a transversely extending` shaft 12d, which is suitably ournaled in bearings secured in position on the under faces oiicertain of the longitudinally extending, timbers or joists, This shaft 12eL is to be driven through the medium of a sprocket 125. lkeyed thereon, and connected, by means a sprocket chain 126, to sprocket 127 keyed on counter shaft 123. rlhe counter shaft 123 is journaled transversely of the framework and in bearings secured on the under faces of the timbers or joists 12 and 15, and is driven, by means of a sprocket gearing 129, through the medium of a sprocket chain 130, from a sprocket 131 carried on a movable clutch member 132, which, in turn, is slidably keyed on the main power shaft 85. The slidable clutch member 132 is cooperative with a clutch member 133 carried by the sprocket 103, which is keyed on the main power shaft S5, as hereinbefore stated, and the clutch member 132 is to be actuated into and out of engagement with the latter' through the medium of an operating rod 1311 extending parallel to the main power shaft S5, and toward the front side of the platform framework, where it is pivotallyY connected to a bell crank lever 135, which, in turn, is pivoted in a bracket 136 secured to the under side. of the timber 12, and which, in turn, is actuated by a control rod. i137. rilhe control rod 137 leads from the bell cranklever and connects an operating' lever 138, which extends upwardly through the v,flooring` 10, of the platform a, and is pivoted in brackets 139 mounted on the upper face of the latter, to either side of the slotted openings in which the lever 138 is movable. This lever 138 also operates the brake band 140 encircling a brake wheel 141 carried at the for*- ward end of the counter shaft 128, whereby to loosen up on the brake band 140 simultaneously with the moving of the clutch member 132 into operative engagement with the clutch member 133, for the free hoistingmovement of the elevating platform 711, and to tighten up on the brake band 1410 simultaneously with the disengaginp,` movement of the clutch member 132, so as t-o regulate the lowering speed of the elevating' platform 74, the lowering movement of which is accomplished by the force of gravity under the action of the weight of the elevated portion of the vehicle or motor truck on the platform. When the platform 74 has been lowered to its normal position flush with the platform flooring 10, the tread grips or shoes 113 are manipulated by the lever 121 to positions beneath the, forward portions of the driven wheels of the vehicle or truck, when the latter maybe driven from the platform a, across the platform 74, and down runway c to ground It is to be noted of the conveyor frame 35, that the same is of open construction, so as to admit of the falling through the same of any dirt or the like, when the article dumped from the vehicle or truck g into the trough 32 are in the nature of vegetables which have been freshly dug from the ground, and to prevent the articles themselves from falling through the frame, when a chain type of endless belt conveyor 36 is used, a series of spaced longitudinally extending rods or bars 35 are secured in position withinthe frame 35 between the opposite upper and lower sides of the conveyor bolt or chain.

It is also to be noted of the vehicle or truck front end elevating mechanism thereof, that the inclination of the posts or trackways 75, and consequently of the standards 78 of the elevating platform 74, is about seventeen degrees inwardly of the vertical, and that the platform 74 therefor remains in horizontal position throughout its up and down movements.

It is well understood that, while the apparatus formingthe subject matter of this case has been shown and described in a preferred assembly of parts, and in specific details and terms of construction and arrangement, various modifications of the same, changes in form and location of parts, and substitution of equivalents, may be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, or from the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed, is

1. In an apparatus for unloading nondumping types of vehicles, a portable platform, means for elevating' said platform for preventing` the shifting thereof, vertical runways leading to and from the opposite ends of said platform, means at one end of said platfdm for elevating the front end of a vehicle for the rear dumping` thereof, a trough depending' from the other end of the platform adapted to receive the dumped material, a closure for the upper end of said trough, a conveyor mechanism proj ectinfg from one side of said platform and communicating' with the trough for conveying the dumped material therefrom, adjustable means common to said elevating;` means and conveyor mechanism for operating them, and means for controllingA the raising' and lowering movements of said elevating means independently of the operation of said conveying means.

2. In an apparatus for unloading nondumping' types of motor vehicles, means for elevating the forward end of the vehicle for rear end dumping` of the contents thereof, means for conveying the dumped material from a point in rear ofthe rear end of the vehicle, ,l and means driven from the rear ywheels of the motor vehicle for actuating sai/d elevating` means andV said conveying means simultaneously, and means for 'dis continuing` the elevating of the forward end of the vehicle without arresting operation of the conveying means.

3. ln an apparatus for unloading non-k 'dumping types of motor vehicles, means for elevating the forward end of vehicle rear end dumping` of the contents thereof, means for conveying the dumped material laterally rom point in rear of the rear end of the vehicle, means for utilizing' the power of the vehicle for actuating said conveying means, means for connecting said elevating means to said power utilizing means for the raising movement of said elevating means and for disconnecting the same for the lowering 'movement thereof by gravity, and a brake means for retarding` the lowering movement of said elevating means, said .brake means being actuated. by said connecting` and disconnecting means and oper able therewith for the said retarding action simultaneously with the disconnecting' movement thereof.

4:. ln an apparatus of the class described, a platform, vehicle runways leading to and from the opposite ends of said platform, means at one end of said platform for elevatingy the front end of a motor vehicle positioned thereonto rear Vend dum Dino' oosition supportsvinclining toward one end of said platform, said supports having said elevat-4 ing meanstraveling thereagainst, a conveyor mechanism carried at the opposite end of said platform and arranged toreceive ticles or material dumped from the vehicle during theelevating movement of its forward end, and means for utilizing the power of the motor vehicle for actuating the vehicle front end elevating` means and said conveyor Inechansm.

.5. ln anapparatus of the class described, a wheeled platform, means for elevating said platform and wheels thereof, detachable runways leading to and from the opposite ends of said platform, means at one end of said platform for elevating the front 'end of a motor vehicle positioned thereon to rear end Adumping position, a conveyor mechanism carried at the opposite rend of said platform and arranged to receive articles or material dumped from the vehicle during lthe elevating movement of its forward end,

and means. for utilizingthe power of the motor vehicle for actuating the vehicle front end elevatng means and said conveyor mechanism.

f 6; Anapparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a portable platform, means for elevating said platform to preventshifting thereof, vertical runways lleading to and from the opposed ends ofpsaid platform,V

means at one end of said platform for elevating the front end of a vehicle for rear 4from the opposed endsy of said platform,

means at one end of said platform for elevating the front end of a vehicle for rear end dumping thereof, a discharge trough depending from said platform at the other end thereof for the reception of the dumped ma: terial, a conveyor' mechanism supported .at one side of the platform and communicating with said trough for conveying the material dumped therein, and means common to said elevating means and conveyor mechanism for actuating them.

8. An apparatus for thepurpose set forth comprising` a portable platform, means for elevating said platform to prevent shifting thereof, vertical runways Vleading to and from the opposed ends of said platform, means at one end of said platform for elevating the front end of a vehicle for rear end dunqpin9,` thereof, inclined supporting' elements for elevating means, a discharge trough depending from said platform at the other end thereof for the reception of the dumped material., conveyor mechanism supported at one side of the platform and communicating with said trough for conveying` the material dumped therein, means common to said elevating means and `conveyor ymechanism for actuating them, and means for cotrolling the raising` and lowering movements of said elevating means independently of the operation of said conveyor mechanism.

9. in apparatus for the Vpurpose set forth comprising a portable platform, means for elevating said platform to prevent shifting thereof, vertical runways leading to land from the opposed ends of said platform, means at one end of said platform for ele vating 'the front end of a vehicle for rear end dumping thereof, a discharge trough depending from said platform at the other end thereof for the reception of the dumped material. a conveyor mechanism supported at one side of the platform and communicating with said trough for conveying the material dumped therein., and means common to said elevating means and conveyor mechanism for actuating them, and means for controlling the raising and lowering movements of eeid elevating means independent@ ef the ieu of seid conveyor mechanism..

Y eppeietus for he purpose Set forth Uieing e sfoiabie pietfoim, means foi eiemtmg seid pietfoi'm to prevent shitinff tiieieo. i' i-icei iuiiweys leading 'to :ma lffioin 'the opposed ends of Said platform, ineens ei', one end of said piei'foim 'l'oi elevating the from end of a vehicie foi' rear end duiiripiiig thereof, disehxirge trough depending imm. said platform ai; *ehe other end theieeiC foi' the eeeption of the dumped.

meei'iei, :i conveyor mechanism supgoited et one side of fee Qietieiomi end ooimnunivwe ing' with Seid tougii 'foi' Coziveyiiigg the inetefiei dumped tileieiu, means Common. te seid eievetiiig inea-iis and oonveyoi. mecheiiism for animating hem, and ineens for di-"eoting the 3 :eiiai during the dumpiiig thereof iiio wie. trough.

En testimony whereof, eiiix my eigiieuie hereto.

W/VLJLARD A. PETEYS. 

